CONTROL OF WEIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1938, Page 4

CONTROL OF WEIGHT

VALUABLE MEDICAL ADVICE. One can remain in good health within quite a large range of weight, but many are over or under weight to the disadvantage of their health, states a medical writer in an Australian paper. The weight of a normal healthy adult should remain practically Rapid or continued loss or gain of weight is a symptom that requires investigation. Children and babies should gain weight continuously. ‘ If one is below normal weight this may be constitution, but if one is losing weight consistently it usually means that there is some disease at the root of the trouble. A continuous gain in weight is due either to incorrect habit of life or to insufficient activity of the thyroid or other ductless glands. In the case of loss of weight, especially if there is loss of strength accompanying it, one should have a thorough medical examination to determine the cause. This may reveal an underlying condition of the digestion, lungs, heart, etc. Should one be too light, much can be done in the way of diet, exercise, and mode of life. The diet should contain plenty of fats, starches, and sugars. Many of these people suffer from dyspepsia or biliousness, and consequently care should be taken in the selection of the fats in the diet. The best form of fat is butter or cream. Butter should be used in cooking green vegetables and frying. While potatoes are not fattening in themselves, they act as a sponge, and a considerable amount of fat can be introduced into the diet in the shape of fried potatoes.

Bacon, ham, pork, and olive oil are other useful forms of fats. Bread and dripping with salt is relished by almost all children, and many adults, as is also fried bread. Egg flips should be taken once or twice daily. Beef tea or sherry before a meal or a red wine with the meal often acts as a valuable stimulant for the appetite and increases the amount of food taken. Underweight people should never have cold baths, and exercise should be moderate. Fresh air, cod-liver oil, and iron tonics are useful adjuncts to the treatment of undue loss of weight.

Many people without justification suffer from the delusion that they are over-weight. This is less the case now than a few years ago. Before dieting to reduce weight, be quite certain that you are really over-weight. If definitely over-weight, and especially if tired, short of breath, and disinclined to take exercise, a weight-re-ducing diet' is advantageous. Any diet that reduces weight rapidly is .harmful, and fails in its effects because, as a rule, one eats more after the course. Moreover, rapid loss of weight causes wrinkles and adds to the apparent age. A reasonable loss of weight on a diet is not more than three pounds the first week, and one pound per week thereafter. A simple modification in the diet is usually sufficient. If possible, omit bread and butter entirely, and this means brown and wholemeal as well as white bread. To replace the desire for bread, large quantities of potatoes mashed with milk, but no butter, will satisfy the desire, and are not fattening. Fat meats, fried foods, cakes, pastry, sweets, chocolates, and thick soups must be avoided. There is no need to go hungry, as satisfying quantities of lean meat, eggs, fish, poultry, green vegetables, salads, and fruits can be taken, also any root vegetable. In addition, exercise within one’s capacity, cold baths, and fresh air will help in the reduction of weight.